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Winnipeg Free Press
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Love Hurts, shot in Manitoba, named most sustainable film production
Cynthia Burke is a sustainability trailblazer in Manitoba's film scene. She's the industry's first certified environmental manager and last year worked as the eco-specialist on Love Hurts, the first local production to employ a dedicated sustainability department. On Monday, the action comedy starring Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan was named the year's most sustainable film production at the 2025 Global Production Awards in Cannes, France, beating out the likes of Wicked and Mean Girls. The international accolade — awarded annually to a production engaged in meaningful green filmmaking practices — is thanks in no small part to Burke's efforts to help reduce waste and emissions on set in Winnipeg. But she isn't one to hog the spotlight. 'I'm a liaison and a cheerleader, but my job is insignificant. The work that's done to create a sustainable film production is the crew's participation and buy-in — without that commitment, none of it is possible,' she says. Burke spent decades working as a teacher, but stepped away from the classroom because of stress and burnout. She's been working in film and television since 2012 after getting a degree in theatre and film and has spent most of her second career as a production assistant, with experience in set decoration, props and location services. Becoming an eco-friendly film production facilitator was not on her bingo card. The opportunity arose during pre-production for Love Hurts. A sustainability department was required to meet the corporate environmental standards of NBCUniversal and 87North Productions, but at the time nobody in town had the proper credentials. Burke interviewed, got the job and spent months training with Green Spark Group, an environmental consulting firm specializing in the film industry. She's since furthered her education with a Sustainable Production for Entertainment Certification (SPEC) from the U.S. Green Building Council California. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Cynthia Burke is the first certified environmental manager in Manitoba's film industry. Burke describes the role of an eco-specialist or environmental manager as 'a huge octopus of tasks.' 'It isn't just taking out the garbage, it's really intensive data collection to see what our carbon footprint is, to see where our emissions are coming from to understand where the gaps are and how to fix them,' she says. It's also about education. Between asking vendors for detailed waste and energy reports, Burke spent time on the Love Hurts set encouraging the cast and crew to use the garbage, recycling and compost bins correctly (which resulted in 4,000 kilograms of compost being diverted from the landfill), celebrating weekly achievements and doling out workplace and household sustainability tips. 'The things we do as teachers in terms of data collection, managing paperwork, teaching, communication skills — all of those things are really lovely parallels that are transferrable into this job,' she says. Power is one of the biggest environmental concerns on a film set. 'The work that's done to create a sustainable film production is the crew's participation and buy-in — without that commitment, none of it is possible.'–Cynthia Burke To cut down on emissions, NBCUniveral paid for electricity upgrades at Winnipeg's Big Sky Studios, which will benefit future productions; used mostly LED lighting; and sourced a hybrid electric generator instead of the usual gas-powered machines. Electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as e-scooters and e-bikes, were used to transport equipment and people. Burke is particularly proud of the new partnerships she helped establish with local organizations. Forty-five tonnes of usable construction and set-building materials were donated to Habitat for Humanity and more than 31 kg of edible prop food was sent to Harvest Manitoba. The on-set caterer agreed to provide reusable and compostable plates and cutlery and reduce the amount of red meat served during the production. Aluminum water bottles were procured to cut down on single-use plastic. One of Burke's biggest hurdles is convincing executives that sustainability initiatives are worth the extra effort and cost — especially with practices that aren't yet commonplace locally. Every Second Friday The latest on food and drink in Winnipeg and beyond from arts writers Ben Sigurdson and Eva Wasney. 'Making change is really difficult. When you have no baseline or past experience, it's hard to get your head around how it can save us money when it's costing us much more upfront. It's a really hard thing for people to understand the holistic aspects of a circular economy,' she says. At the moment, sustainability isn't an official department recognized by local film unions. Burke hopes her work and Love Hurts' sustainability win will help move the industry forward. Universal Pictures Ke Huy Quan (left) and Rhys Darby in Love Hurts 'We need to keep training people,' she says. 'We could be the best example of sustainable film production because we're a small market. We know each other and our vendors want to support (this) because you can see the difference it makes in Winnipeg.' X: @evawasney How is the stage lit? Who hangs the paintings? What happens in the dish pit? Behind the Scenes is a recurring series highlighting the important and often invisible work happening at arts and culture venues across Winnipeg. Eva WasneyReporter Eva Wasney has been a reporter with the Free Press Arts & Life department since 2019. Read more about Eva. Every piece of reporting Eva produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A24 and Green Toolkit Pioneer Industry-Leading Sustainability Milestone in Global Film Production
COLOGNE, Germany, April 29, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a historic breakthrough for sustainable filmmaking, Green Toolkit and A24 have achieved what no other collaboration has before: ISO 14067 certification for a major international film. The upcoming feature film Mother Mary has officially become the first production worldwide to meet the rigorous standards of the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) – setting a new benchmark in entertainment sustainability. A24, the studio behind Academy Award-winning films such as Everything Everywhere All at Once, continues to lead the industry with its commitment to climate responsibility. The certification was achieved through A24's collaboration with Green Toolkit, the world's first ISO-compliant sustainability software platform designed specifically for film, TV, and streaming productions. By providing precise, automated tools to reduce carbon emissions, minimize waste, and manage resources efficiently throughout all phases of production, Green Toolkit has delivered a new standard of data accuracy and comparability. Recognizing the benefits of Green Toolkit's innovative software, A24 has fully integrated the tool into its production workflows. A Milestone for North American Productions The achievement is especially significant because it represents the first successful integration of Canadian and U.S.-specific factors and data sources into ISO 14067 certification for film production. By including regionally relevant criteria such as the Canadian and U.S. energy grid. Green Toolkit has established a new global standard for ISO-compliant carbon accounting in North America. This capability ensures that the methodology is tailored to accurately reflect the unique environmental factors impacting North American productions. Since its launch in 2022, Green Toolkit has been adopted by productions in over 37 countries, making it the leading ISO-compliant sustainability software in the entertainment industry. By retroactively integrating data from 2024 productions, A24 is establishing a comprehensive emissions baseline for 2025, enabling accurate tracking of CO₂ savings and financial impacts of their sustainability efforts. "Achieving ISO 14067 certification is a transformative milestone for Mother Mary and the entire film industry," said Lisa Plesser, CEO of Green Toolkit. "This collaboration with A24 proves that impactful sustainability solutions are possible when innovative technology meets bold, forward-thinking partners. We are proud to support A24's trailblazing journey with our Green Toolkit." Strategic Partnership with Green Spark Group In a further step toward industry transformation, Green Toolkit is entering a strategic partnership with Green Spark Group, a leading sustainability consultancy for the entertainment industry. Green Spark Group, based in Vancouver, Canada, brings local insight and international experience to the table. About Green Toolkit Launched in 2022, Green Toolkit is the world's first ISO-aligned sustainability software platform tailored specifically for the entertainment industry. The platform helps productions track and reduce their environmental impact through innovative, automated tools. Since its launch, it has supported over 1500 films, series, and event projects — including Mother Mary (A24). View source version on Contacts For media inquiries, please contact: Contact Person: Silvia Kling+49 (0)151 15 730 742gwk@ Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Wire
29-04-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
A24 and Green Toolkit Pioneer Industry-Leading Sustainability Milestone in Global Film Production
COLOGNE, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a historic breakthrough for sustainable filmmaking, Green Toolkit and A24 have achieved what no other collaboration has before: ISO 14067 certification for a major international film. The upcoming feature film Mother Mary has officially become the first production worldwide to meet the rigorous standards of the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) – setting a new benchmark in entertainment sustainability. A24, the studio behind Academy Award-winning films such as Everything Everywhere All at Once, continues to lead the industry with its commitment to climate responsibility. A24 and Green Toolkit pioneer industry-leading sustainability milestone in global film production. Green Toolkit announces a strategic partnership with Green Spark Group to empower media professionals with innovative tools to achieve their climate goals. Share The certification was achieved through A24's collaboration with Green Toolkit, the world's first ISO-compliant sustainability software platform designed specifically for film, TV, and streaming productions. By providing precise, automated tools to reduce carbon emissions, minimize waste, and manage resources efficiently throughout all phases of production, Green Toolkit has delivered a new standard of data accuracy and comparability. Recognizing the benefits of Green Toolkit's innovative software, A24 has fully integrated the tool into its production workflows. A Milestone for North American Productions The achievement is especially significant because it represents the first successful integration of Canadian and U.S.-specific factors and data sources into ISO 14067 certification for film production. By including regionally relevant criteria such as the Canadian and U.S. energy grid. Green Toolkit has established a new global standard for ISO-compliant carbon accounting in North America. This capability ensures that the methodology is tailored to accurately reflect the unique environmental factors impacting North American productions. Since its launch in 2022, Green Toolkit has been adopted by productions in over 37 countries, making it the leading ISO-compliant sustainability software in the entertainment industry. By retroactively integrating data from 2024 productions, A24 is establishing a comprehensive emissions baseline for 2025, enabling accurate tracking of CO₂ savings and financial impacts of their sustainability efforts. 'Achieving ISO 14067 certification is a transformative milestone for Mother Mary and the entire film industry,' said Lisa Plesser, CEO of Green Toolkit. 'This collaboration with A24 proves that impactful sustainability solutions are possible when innovative technology meets bold, forward-thinking partners. We are proud to support A24's trailblazing journey with our Green Toolkit.' Strategic Partnership with Green Spark Group In a further step toward industry transformation, Green Toolkit is entering a strategic partnership with Green Spark Group, a leading sustainability consultancy for the entertainment industry. Green Spark Group, based in Vancouver, Canada, brings local insight and international experience to the table. About Green Toolkit Launched in 2022, Green Toolkit is the world's first ISO-aligned sustainability software platform tailored specifically for the entertainment industry. The platform helps productions track and reduce their environmental impact through innovative, automated tools. Since its launch, it has supported over 1500 films, series, and event projects — including Mother Mary (A24).
National Post
29-04-2025
- Business
- National Post
A24 and Green Toolkit Pioneer Industry-Leading Sustainability Milestone in Global Film Production
Article content COLOGNE, Germany — In a historic breakthrough for sustainable filmmaking, Green Toolkit and A24 have achieved what no other collaboration has before: ISO 14067 certification for a major international film. The upcoming feature film Mother Mary has officially become the first production worldwide to meet the rigorous standards of the Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) – setting a new benchmark in entertainment sustainability. A24, the studio behind Academy Award-winning films such as Everything Everywhere All at Once, continues to lead the industry with its commitment to climate responsibility. Article content Article content A24 and Green Toolkit pioneer industry-leading sustainability milestone in global film production. Green Toolkit announces a strategic partnership with Green Spark Group to empower media professionals with innovative tools to achieve their climate goals. Article content The certification was achieved through A24's collaboration with Green Toolkit, the world's first ISO-compliant sustainability software platform designed specifically for film, TV, and streaming productions. By providing precise, automated tools to reduce carbon emissions, minimize waste, and manage resources efficiently throughout all phases of production, Green Toolkit has delivered a new standard of data accuracy and comparability. Article content Recognizing the benefits of Green Toolkit's innovative software, A24 has fully integrated the tool into its production workflows. Article content A Milestone for North American Productions Article content The achievement is especially significant because it represents the first successful integration of Canadian and U.S.-specific factors and data sources into ISO 14067 certification for film production. By including regionally relevant criteria such as the Canadian and U.S. energy grid. Green Toolkit has established a new global standard for ISO-compliant carbon accounting in North America. This capability ensures that the methodology is tailored to accurately reflect the unique environmental factors impacting North American productions. Article content Since its launch in 2022, Green Toolkit has been adopted by productions in over 37 countries, making it the leading ISO-compliant sustainability software in the entertainment industry. By retroactively integrating data from 2024 productions, A24 is establishing a comprehensive emissions baseline for 2025, enabling accurate tracking of CO₂ savings and financial impacts of their sustainability efforts. Article content 'Achieving ISO 14067 certification is a transformative milestone for Mother Mary and the entire film industry,' said Lisa Plesser, CEO of Green Toolkit. 'This collaboration with A24 proves that impactful sustainability solutions are possible when innovative technology meets bold, forward-thinking partners. We are proud to support A24's trailblazing journey with our Green Toolkit.' Article content In a further step toward industry transformation, Green Toolkit is entering a strategic partnership with Green Spark Group, a leading sustainability consultancy for the entertainment industry. Green Spark Group, based in Vancouver, Canada, brings local insight and international experience to the table. Article content About Green Toolkit Article content Launched in 2022, Green Toolkit is the world's first ISO-aligned sustainability software platform tailored specifically for the entertainment industry. The platform helps productions track and reduce their environmental impact through innovative, automated tools. Since its launch, it has supported over 1500 films, series, and event projects — including Mother Mary (A24). Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
